Bromyard "Jacob" Auxiliary Unit Patrol.

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the Bromyard "Jacob" Auxiliary Unit and Operational Base. The info and images below have been supplied by our
internal archive and other sources.

This page was last updated on 4/3/16

Research into this patrol and its training is ongoing. The information below is published from
various sources and is by no means conclusive. If information is not listed below
it does not necessarily mean the information is not out there but normally means CART researchers
have not found it yet.

If you have any information on this patrol or can help with research in this area please do
contact us.

Bromyard is a town in north east Herefordshire, England. It lies near to the
county border with Worcestershire on the A44 between Leominster and Worcester.

The first intelligence officer was Captain John Ellerman Todd who had been a London stockbroker before the war.
Known to be a character but dressed as the country gent it is believed he lived at Llanfihangel Crucorny in
Monmouthshire. Recruited to SOE, Todd was replaced by Captain Christopher Sandford and the area headquarters became
Eye Manor near Leominster.

Area Group Commander was Captain Geoffrey S E Lacon of Bircher near Leominster
Group commander of these Patrols was Captain J.H.“Hughie” Hall and Assistant C.Q.M.S. Albert Thomas
Pettifer.

Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Monmouthshire Patrols were given Biblical code names. It is assumed this was
an initiative of Todd to prevent the use of patrols locations names.

Currently unknown though thought to be the latter part of 1940.

Sergeant Edward Heath Agnew of Yarkhill
Corporal John F Hartwright of Bishops Frome
Private John T Thornton of Suckley
Private David T Went of Pencombe, Bromyard
Private William Farmer Pudge of Bishops Frome
Private John E Potter of
Bringsty
Private Howard Kelsey of Bishops Frome
Trevor Parker of Cheney Court. Originally was second in command before ranks were issued but left after a short
time.
Private Robinson of Bromyard, discharged to RAF

The first OB was in Warren Wood on Bromyard Downs, overlooking the race course. It was L-shaped and built of
concrete blocks but was too small for all the Patrol.

The second OB was built some distance away from the first at the top of the wood near the reservoir. Built by
local contractors who were helped by the local bailiff's men, it was built of corrugated iron and brick with a 20
foot long escape tunnel.

The tunnel emerged between two large rocks in a quarry.

Unhappy with the hinged entrance the Patrol made their own with counterbalance weights and disguised it with
leaves and twigs.

Observation Post: A telephone in the OB was linked by two wires to another one hidden under a
Yew tree near the road. From here any observer would have a fine view of the Common and any approaching forces.

Other physical remains nearby: Initially explosives were stored in a large barn next to the
oasthouse at Brookhouse Farm. When the second OB was built the first became the explosives store.

Explosives were also buried amongst the trees opposite Clater Park and under a Yew tree near the road by
Brockhampton School.

A local man Ed Harris describes the OB. 'Back in the late 50's/ early 60's when we played up there, there were 2 x 2 tier metal bunkbeds inside, a small metal table and 4 metal chairs. On shelf was a primus-type stove and several pots and pans.

I remember that in one tin were boxes of matches and some flints- for a lighter possibly.

It was a challenge to squeeze through the small opening that remained in place'

In Feb/March 2016 archaeological work began on both Operational Bases. A full report will be published in the next few months and we hope to add it to this page.

When Agnew moved to Yarkhill, meetings were held at The Hop Pole Hotel at Bromyard and training exercises were
at Stanford Court (the home of John Potter). By this time the pressure had eased and it was almost more of a social
event.

Night training exercises were carried out in pairs to the large houses at Brockhampton and Buckinhill.

The Patrol stayed at the OB at weekends from Friday to Saturday. Towards the end the OB had become very damp and
the Patrol had a rota to check it a few times a week.

All Hereford Patrols trained at Holmer Grange, the home of Captain “Hughie” Hall. Auxiliers had memories of a
large lake with a pontoon bridge over. An exercise was to run over the pontoon with all their equipment, missing
the part of the bridge that was primed to collapse. If they didn't fall in, the instructors pushed them in anyway.
A stuffed dummy mounted in a doorway was used for silent killing practice.

A competition between all six patrols took place at a farm at Holmer. Each Patrol had to place a magnet with the
Patrols name attached on some farm equipment stored in a yard. Getting in and out without being spotted the victor
was”Jacob” Patrol.

John Thornton and Howard Kelsey both went to Coleshill three
times to train. Travelling by car and finally by Army lorry they remembered unarmed combat training and night
patrols.

Unknown, but it is assumed that they had the standard weapons and explosives issued to all patrols. John
Thornton also remembers a “different type of knife with a curved end”. This is thought to be a tyre slasher which
was later issued to SOE.

Sergeant Edward Agnew was a former Oxford rowing blue and left farming after the war to become a private
teacher. Remembered as a outstanding leader he was regarded with a great deal of respect.

Corporal John Hartwright was a First World War veteran from the Royal Horse Artillery. He worked as a lorry
driver and mechanic for Fowlers of Bishops Frome. Private Robinson was a teacher from Bromyard. All the other
Auxiliers were farmers, John Potter moved into the new launderette business after the war.

Like many others countrywide, John Thornton was called up to the regular army but returned after only a few
days.

Captain John Todd gathered a few Patrols at Overbury Court before going overseas. He was asking for volunteers
to go to Norway with him. Agnew and another Auxilier put their names forward but it is thought the plan was deemed
impractical.

“Jacob” Patrol were told to make their way to Mrs Harris or Mrs Lane, who both lived on the Downs if they were
injured during operations.

In a similar system that was set up in Worcestershire, the patrol had a secret “message postbox” through which
they could supposedly communicate with “HQ” (thought to be Capt Sandford at Eye Manor). A loose stone in the wall
around Brockhampton School, near the rear entranceway left a hole where messages to and from the Patrol could be
concealed. The school headmaster, Mr Essenheim ended up “the postman”.

Along with other patrols from around the country some of “Jacob” Patrol were recruited to defend the Isle of
Wight in June 1944 during the time of D-Day. Here is a story of others
experience of D-Day on the Isle of Wight.

Herefordshire patrols had their first reunion dinner on 26th January1945 at Booth Hall in Hereford.